Thread control on automatic looms



Oct. 12, 1943. R. e. TURNER 2,331,354

THREAD CONTROL 0N AUTOMATIC LOOM Original Filed Jan. 28, 1942 INVENTOR Rum-man G. TURNER Patented Oct. 12, 1943 THREAD CONTROL ON AUTOMATIC LOOMS Richard G. Turner, Worcester, Mass, assignor to Crompton & Knowles Loom Works, Worcester, Mass, a corporation of Massachusetts Continuation of application Serial No. 428,459,,

January 28, 1942. This application December 14, 1942, Serial No. 468,929

25 Claims.

thread controlling mechanisms for weft replenishing looms and it is the general object of the invention to prevent interference with the operation of the thread holder by the thread of a bobbin which is discharged from the magazine due to revocation of acalled replenishing operation.

In multi-color weft replenishing looms employing stationary magazines the reserve bobbins are arranged in stacks or groups and move as called one at a time to transfer position. When in transfer position the bobbin must either be transferred into the depleted shuttle or be ejected from the magazine so that it will not interfere with another bobbin moving toward transfer position. Heretofore I have proposed a pneumatic thread holder which holds the weft ends of the reserve bobbins taut by the action of a partial vacuum. In the usual operation of such a mechanism the maximum length of thread which the holder must remove from the loom is no more than the distance from the thread holder to the adjacent selvage and such a length of thread will not interfere with the proper operation of the thread holder.

When a pneumatic thread holder is applied to the so-called stationary magazine, however, the whole mass of weft on the full discharged bobbin is likely to be drawn into the thread holder with resultant objectionable clogging of the thread intake mouth of the holder. It is an important object of my present invention to provide means for cutting the thread of a bobbin discharged from the magazine to avoid clogging of the thread holder.

In the type of magazine to which my invention more particularly relates the bobbins are held in reserve stacks and the bottom bobbin of each stack is released to fall to transfer position on yielding supports, and if transfer is completed the bobbin moves to transferred position in the shuttle, but if transfer is revoked the bobbin falls to discharged position inthe bobbin can. The weft end extending to the thread holder drops with its bobbin to each of these positions, but when the bobbin is correctly transferred there is no need for cutting its thread, otherwise the shuttle would not be threaded. It is only when the bobbin is in discharged position that the cutting is necessary, and in falling into the can the bobbin pulls its weft end downwardly to locate the latter-within the zone of operation of the thread cutter. While I have described specifically the relation between the various positions of the thread of a reserve bobbin and the thread cutter with reference to a multi-color magazine, yet I do not wish to be limited in the practice of my invention to such magazines, inasmuch as it is sufficient for the purposes of my invention if the thread of a properly transferred bobbin is held above or otherwise out of the range of operation of the cutter and the thread of a revoked or discharged bobbin moves into cutting position.

When a transfer is revoked the magazine is likely to be set for another transfer shortly thereafter because the shuttle which called for the first transfer will still be empty and will call for the second transfer through the weft detector. If the thread from the expelled bobbin released for the first transfer remains attached to the thread holder it is in such position as to interfere with proper tensioning and removal of the thread of the bobbin involved in the second transfer. It is a further object of my'present invention to prevent interference in the removal of the thread of the second bobbin by the thread of the discharged first bobbin by cutting the latter thread before the time arrives in the cycle of loom operations when removal of the thread of the second bobbin may be necessary.

The magazine of reserve bobbins is ordinarily located above the lay and the weft ends of the reserve bobbins extend downwardly toward the thread holder. When a bobbin is discharged from the magazine in a revoking operation its thread extends downwardly from the thread holder into the bobbin can and is therefore away from the space occupied by the other weftends. It is a further object of my present inventionto provide thread cutting mechanism having a range of action below the zone occupied by the Weft threads of the reserve bobbins in the magazine and the thread of a transferred bobbin but in position to sever the thread of a discharged bobbin. r w

With these and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, my invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and set forth in the claims.

In the accompanying drawing wherein a convenient embodiment of my invention is set forth,

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a portion of a weft replenishing loommade' according to my present invention,

Fig. 2 is a detailed horizontal section on an enlarged scale on line 22, Fig. 1,

Fig. 3 is a detailed side elevation looking in the direction of arrow 3, Fig. 2,

Fig. 4 is a vertical section on line 4-4 of Fig. 3,

Fig. 5 is a detailed plan on an enlarged scale looking in the direction of arrow 5, Fig. 1,

Fig. 6 is a view from the center of the loom looking toward the weft replenishin mechanism used in connection with my invention, and

Fig. 7 is a front elevation looking in th direc: tion of arrow 1, Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawing, a loom frame It supports a top or crank shaft II rotating each;v pick of the loom and attached by means of a connector l2 to a lay L. A shuttle S is received. by a shuttle box [3 on the lay and is-picked bac k; and forth across the loom in the usual manner. As shown in Fig. 2 a picker stick [5 actuates a picker l3 which engages the tip end of the shuttle S.

The magazine M is represented as being of thefour-color type and has four different stacks ll: of reserve bobbins. The magazine ha an inner plate I 8provided with a foot [9 secured to theloom frame and carrying front bobbin butt sup-. port 20 which may be made accordin to Brouwer Patent No. 1,652,604, A backbobbin support 21 may be made according to Ryon Patent No. 1,366,950 and cooperates with the front support-to hold the head or butt end of the bobbin in transfer position. The outer plate 22 of the magazine may be provided with bobbin tip supportsi23 made according to Ryon Patent No. 1,563,592. The butt supports are normally in open positionbut move to closed position when the magazineis set for transfer to hold a bobbin released fromany of the stacks H in transfer position under a transferrer arm 24 pivoted on a stud 25 carried. by the foot 19. The rear support 2! has associated therewith a cam ZSwhich cooperates with a pin 2'! on a shuttl feeler 28 which is normally in raised position to cause the pin to engagethe cam and move the support 2| rearwardly orto the left as viewed in Fig. 6 to open position. When the'magazineis set for: transfer theshuttle feeler is lowered and pin 2'l-moves down to-per mit the rear support 'Zl to move forwardly to closed. or bobbinsupporting position.

The loom is provided with an air pump 3ll-having a piston 3-|- attached-by rod 32 to lever 33. swinging about a fixed pivot 34. An operating rod 35- connects lever 33 with thelay-L to move the piston 31 rearwardly on each backward stroke of-th lay. A tube 36 connects the pump to a hollow thread accumulator 37' the lowerend-of. which has a passage 38-communicating with-a pneumatic thread holder 39. The latter has an intake mouth 40 communicating with the interior of: the air tight accumulator 31. to receive, the weft. ends Wwhichextendfrom the reserve, bobbins Bin themagazine. As the lay moves rearwardlv apartial vacuumis created in th accumulator the effect of which is to draw the weft ends through the mouth 4p andhold themta-ut.

The matter thusiar described is constructed and "operates in the usual manner. The lay swings forwardly each pick of the loom to move its bunter 43 toward a'latch 42 pivoted onthe transferrer arm and normally down. On the rearward stroke of the lay a partial'vacuum is created within the accumulator 37-and the weft ends Ware held taut. When a replenishing operation of the loom is called-a bobbin is released from one or another of the stacks ILand falls to a transfer position on the supports 20, 2| and 23 as shown at T in Fig. 6 and the shuttle feeler is down. At the same time the latch 42 is raised into the path of the bunter 43, and as the lay advances the bobbin on the supports will either be moved to, transferred position in the shuttle if the latter is properly, positioned. or the called transfer will be revoked by the shuttle feeler. If the transfer is completed the weft end extends from the shuttle to the thread holder and on the immediately. iollQwing pick the new bobbin and shuttle will travel together to the opposite side of the loom and there will be at least a partial threadingof the shuttle eye due to holding of the thread of the transferred bobbin by thethread-z holder. If, on the other hand, the shuttle should: beimproperly boxed it will raise the shuttle feeler to prevent transfer in the usual. manner and lift pin 21 against cam 26 to rock support 2| rearwardly and release the bobbin from position. ll-and: cause. it tofall into-.bobbin can C.

In its downward course-through the positions described the descendingibobbin.willzcamty itsweft end from the full: lineposition in. Fig. 7: to-the transfer position shown in. dot and dash. lines, then to. the. transferred: position shown. in light dottedv lines if transfer is completed, or to. the heavy dotted line position. W if. transfer is re.-. voked and the bobbin moves to discharged posi.-. tion. The. thread. holder. actstoholdl the. weft end taut during-descent of thebobbin.

The pin 2]: and. cam, 25; areillustrated as. one means for eifectingdischargeiof, an. untransferred bobbin fromthe. magazine, but I: doanot wish. to belimited: to. such. structures. for. accomplishing this. result, sinceit-is sufficient for, the purposes. of: my present invention. if the. bobbin. in. transfer position. which fails. to be. transfer-lied is. dis.- charged. from. the. magazine. Another. means-i011 accomplishing. this result: isshown in.Gor.don.Bat-. ent. No. 932,119:

In carrying my present invention. into effect I. provide. means forv cutting. theweft; end. W." of; the discharged bobbin-at some. point between. the.latter. and. the thread holder.- Iio accom plish this-.resulteIi mount. aplate; 5flion. he bot: tom of the thread holder; 39g: and. fix; theretoa. statio ary utter. blade: 54. cooner teswi a. movable blade.5:22 pivot idi n-.a;.studa .ad nend: in fr mv hepla eifi. A torsionsp in l 4 1% the. upper. end: thereof. attached to. the me able. blade owerz d: connect d-- ..a.-. ol .a SSadjustably fixed tdthestud 5.3 andseryesto hold the. movable blade in; open; or; orward; p.051- tion, as .showndnfullzlin s. 5

An. operatingod: Maia-pivoted as r a .1; o-th movable blade and extends rearwardly, thrpug-h a. clip 62;; secured s. atifiiaa he: :36 pdih y'in anopening. B4J hI'QU h1W iCh: be-.- .-Qd, l s zst nd i Ainut o utm n 'fi adiu table cared-1 behind. the. clip 62? is, engagedby; th latter. on; each backward stroke. f: he. aya. caus earw rd movement Qt-the lade 5;2;' 0 theutti nn e ted line posi i n Qfi i t y-.- a. f Q e pmm rii ates thereto from the Iavthmii hcl p-Bland rodawi Asshowndn Fig. i t e weftz nd ofz obb n the. magazine... in. trans e qsi on'... r n. itan ferremnositioninthe shuttle sl bov he. n ofaction ofthe movable-mit r; b ade-and he ate ten-therefore hassnoefie t. on .a h. ad.. n; es positons. when; he: obbin alls, nt h an. however, itsweft We extends, downwardly intg the-bightbetween .thacuttenblades and ztherefore within .the .rangeeof 1' operation of sthathread cut:

ter. If desired the thread holder may have secured thereto an angle plate lying over the cutter blades and having inclined edges to define a notch 12 which guides the thread W into the path of the movable cutter blade. In order to prevent injury to the weaver I provide a guard 75 above the cutter. This guard comprises wire fingers 16 secured to angle plate 10 by screw 11 and diverging as suggested in Fig. 2 from notch 12 to direct the weft W toward cutting position. The wires are close enough together to prevent the weavers fingers from reaching the range of action of the cutter when putting new bobbins in the magazine and placing their weft ends near the mouth 40 of the thread holder.

It is believed that the operation of my invention will be understood from the foregoing description. When a called transfer is completed in the usual manner the weft thread of the descending bobbin remains above the range of operation of the thread cutter and is held taut by the thread holder during the ensuing pick of the shuttle. When a transfer is revoked, however, the rejected bobbin drops into the can and carries its weft end downwardly into the range of action of the movable cutter blade, the notch 12, if used, assisting in directing the weft end to cutting position. On the backward stroke of the lay the clip 82 strikes the abutment 65 to move the cutter blade 52 rearwardly to sever the weft end W. The abutment 65 can be set so that the last part only of the rearward stroke of the lay will be utilized in moving the blade 52, thereby affording ample time for the discharged bobbin to fall and move its thread down into cutting position. During this same backward stroke of the lay the air pump will create a partial vacuum in the thread holder and will draw into the accumulator that part of the thread of the revoked bobbin lying beyond the cutter with respect to the bobbin can. The yarn on the revoked bobbin will not be affected by the pneumatic attraction of the thread holder and the intake mouth will therefore remain free to exert proper tension on the threads of the bobbins in the magazine and for removal of the weft ends of any bobbins subsequently properly transferred.

It is to be understood that a revoked transfer will in all likelihood be followed by a second indication of exhaustion by the weft detector and the magazine will again try to replenish the depleted shuttle when the latter arrives at the replenishing side of the loom two picks later. By this time, however, the thread cutter will have cut the weft end of the previously rejected bobbin and if the second transfer is completed the weft end of the properly transferred bobbin can be removed in the ordinary manner due to the fact that the intake mouth of the thread holder is not clogged.

I have located the thread cutter on the thread holder but I do-not wish necessarily to be limited to such a mounting for it, since it is sufiicient if the cutter is mounted in such position that it will not cut the weft ends of a bobbin in the magazine or properly transferred into the shuttle, but will cut the weft end of the discharged bobbin.

From the foregoing it will be seen that I have provided means for preventing a pneumatic or other form of thread holder which tensions the weft ends W from unwinding all the yarn on a bobbin discharged from the magazine. It will further be seen that the thread cutter operates the thread holder to a bobbin properly transferred into the shuttle or to a bobbin in anythe magazinecan be set again for transfer. The

thread holder is set forth as of the pneumatic type, but certain aspects of my invention are not limited to such a holder, inasmuch as the condition which renders a cutter desirable can be created by any form of thread holder which draws the weft threads away from the magazine by exerting a constant tension on them. The thread holder set forth in Payne Patent No. 1,842,731, may, for instance, be mentioned as a type of thread holder which can be used advantageously with my present invention.

Having thus described my invention it will be seen that changes and modifications may be made therein by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention and I do not wish to be limited to the details herein disclosed, but what I claim is:-

1. In a weft replenishing loom having a reserve bobbin in transfer position and provided with a weft end, the loom having provision either for transferring the bobbin into a shuttle properly placed for replenishment or dropping the bobbin to a discharged position below the level of the shuttle if the latter is improperly placed for replenishment, the weft end of the bobbin when the latter is in discharged position lying in a low position below the position said end would have occupied had the bobbin been transferred into the shuttle, a thread holder tending to unwind the weft end when the bobbin is in discharged position, and means operated by the loomand positioned to cut the weft end of a bobbin in transfer position at a point between the thread holder and bobbin when the latter is in discharged position only to prevent the thread holder from unwinding the yarn of a bobbin in discharged position.

2. In a weft replenishing loom having a reserve bobbin in transfer position and provided with a weft end, the loom having provision either for transferring the bobbin into a shuttle properly placed for replenishment or dropping the hobbit: to a discharged position below the level of the shuttle if the latter is improperly placed for replenishment, the weft end of the bobbin when the latter is in discharged position lying in a low position below the position said weft end would have occupied had the bobbin been transferred into the shuttle, a pneumatic thread holder tending to unwind weft from the bobbin when the latter is in discharged position, and means operated by the loom to cut the weft end only when the latter has been moved to said low position by movement of the bobbin to discharged position and thereby prevent the thread holder from unwinding the yarn of a bobbin in discharged position.

3. In a weft replenishing loom having a reserve bobbin in transfer position and provided with a weft end, the loom having provision either for transferring the bobbininto a shuttle properly in a zone which is below a thread extending from placedzior: replenishment or dropping the. bobbiir to; are discharged; position belowthe levelof the shuttle. it the: latter is improperly placedfor replenishment the, Weft end. of the; bobbin when; the latter: is: in discharged position; lying in: a low: position: below the position said. weft end would have occupied; had. the. bobbin been transferred intos the. shuttle, a thread holder to which at-- tanked the weft end of. the bobbin and acting: to; maintain. the. threadtaut whether-the. bobbintbe; inithe shuttle or il'lldiSGhfiI'g'Qd position, andimeansoperated by the. loom and operative: to. out the; weft. end: only. when the bobbin is in said disohargedposition.

42.. Ina; weft replenishing loom having a magae zine containing-reserve bobbins provided-with weft-2 ends. and having; provision operative upon. exhaustion of; weft: in a shuttle to cal] for a trans-- fer-operation. and. either insert a' reserve bobbin. from. the; magazine into the shuttle ifthe latter is; properly placed for replenishment or drop a: bobbin; to: a. low position below that occupiedaby' the: shuttle. should. the called transfer operation be; revoked. due to displacement of the shuttlefrom proper replenishing position, athreadholder attaohedto the weft ends ofthe bobbins-whether the latter be in the magazine, have been transferred. into the shuttle, or have been dropped to. said low position, and a thread cutter operated bYPthB'lOOI'XliQDd having a rangeof action below a: weft end-which extends. from the; thread holder either. toia= bobbin in the magazineor to a bobbin transferred into. the-shuttle, abobbinwhen dropping" to: said: low position movingv the weft end; thereofwithin the. range of operation of: said& threadcutter.

5;, Inna; weft replenishing loomhaving; a group of reserve. bobbins each provided with a weft ondland whereinthe bobbins move from'thegroupi (methy one; either: into a depleted'shuttl as theresult of a completed called replenishingoperation. of thelOOIIl or to a low position below that; occupiedby the shuttle if the called-replenishing: operation is: revoked, a thread holder to whichis. attached the;;weit end of a bobbin whether. the. latter hasbeen.transferred-into the shuttle or has; been dropped to-said low position, and athreadx cutter operatedby the locm'and operative below the weit, end extending from a properly-trans ferredbobbin and effective to out onlythe weft end extending from the threadholder to abobbim which isin said low position.

6. Ina weft replenishing loom havingagroupofreserve. bobbins provided with weft endsandl having-provisionoperative upon call for replenishmention efiecting movement of the bobbinsone byone; either to a properly transferred position in a, shuttle below said group or to a lower position; when a called replenishing operation is revoked, flathlfifld holder to which is attached the weft. end

. of? a bobbin either in properly transferred position or in said lower position, and a thread cutter operated by. theloom and effective to out only' thesthread extending-from the thread holder toabobbin in said lower position.

of: reserve bobbins provided with. weft: ends anrll having-provision for moving the bobbinsoneby,- onafrom the group either toa properly trans-- ferred:position-in:a depletedshuttle or to a lowv 7 revoked position below that occupied by the shuta tle,v the'weft endsof a .bobbinin properly transferrediposition or. insaidgronp lying. in'ca zone:- above.v the: weft; end extending from a. bobbin; in:

low: revoked position and a thread; cutter: openaasigssez atedbythe: loom. and. having. a range: ofiaction: below. said; zone, a bobbin. when: moving: to; saidlow' revoked. position moving the: weft. end-Z there-- of into 1 saidirange. of action: of. saidthread: cutter;

8; In a. weft. replenishing: loonr having; a weft end: connected; to-a; reserve btobbirr which can oc.-' cups: any one ofIt-hree vertical positions the first of. which: corresponds to: a transfer. positiom. the second at which: corresponds: to=a1 transferred po-- sition: in a. shuttle below thefirst position, and thesthird: of which: is: below the; second position; a threadzholder towhichris attached the. weft end:- of; anybobbin: in. any; of said: positions, andi a: thread cutter operated; by the m. and. opera.-

' tive to out cnly'theweft end extendingfrom the threadi holder to abobbin-in. said third: position.

9: In; a: weft replenishing. loom having. a weft end connected: to: a: reserve bobbin. which: can: oc-- cupy' either of two: positions the; first of: whichcorresponds: to: a; transferred: position. in a: shuttle: and. thessecond of which is below thefirstf p0 sitiom. athread, holdertowhichis attached theweft; end of; the: bobbin. when the. latter is in. either of said positions, and a: thread: cutter operated'by the loom and-.havinga'rangeof actioncorrespondinglto-thdweft end:of a bobbinins'aid seeondipositi'ononly and effective tocutthe weft endiof. thebobbin=when the latter is insa'idsec 0nd position only.

10;.In: a: weft replenishing: loom havin'g weft. ends-connected to reserverbobbins whichcan bemoved; oneby. one either: into 1 a. depleted. shuttle; as the result of a completed called: transfer op-- erati'on. or; be.- dropped toa' low position. below thaiioccupied-by. the depletedtshutt'le-if a called? transfer: operation: is revoked; and wherein pro.-- visionis. made-for callinga second transfer. 0p'.-- erationif: the; first; transfer operation. is. revoked; a: thread holdezvto which: is attached the weft;

end. on BJbObbiII either ina .shuttleor inzsaid low position, and means below the'position-occupied: by; the weft; endv of; abobbin which has been: movediinto; the; depleted shuttle and operated by.- the loom subsequent: tomovement' of a bobbin to. said; low. position; anda-prior: to movement. ofa second bobbinrtosaid-low: position should a: sec. ond: called. transfer operation: be revoked to out. the thread of the first bobbin in said low positionat. a. point. between said last: named bobbirrand thethread holder.

1L Inzatweft replenishing loom-having a group. of:reserve:bobbins.provided with weft ends-.a-nd" wherein calls for transfer: operations .efiect Inove.-.- ment: of the bobbins one by; oneeither into a.- transferredzposition. in: a depletedishuttlet-or' to a low position below transferred position should a called. transfer operation be revoked,- and wherein'zprovi'sion is made-.to :repeat the call for a-tra-nsferroperationzii: the first call is revoked,- a a thread:

holderto-whichis attached'the'weft endxo'f. any, bobbin in said low position, and meansbelowthe time inthecycle: of=the:loom' when another bob-- '7.- In a'weft replenishing loom-havinga group.

bin :can occupy said low= position.

12. In:- a. weft; replenishing. loomhaving a reserve bobbina provided. with. aweft. end: and. wherein provision is made either fO'IIl'XlOVlnglhl-E. bobbin: into; a depleted shuttleat: one: point' in the cycle; of-loom-operationsas the-result ofia; called 1 replenishing=;operation,. .or: eiiecting.- move ment of c the: bobbin to a: low..position -.below that occupied by: thershuttle atza later'point inithe cxcle :ofrloomaoperations if*thepalledrrepl'enishinri operation is revoked, a thread holder to which is attached the weft end of the bobbin whether the.

latter has been inserted into the shuttle or has moved to said low position, and a thread cutter operated by the loom at a third point in the cycle subsequent to said first two points and positioned to out only the thread of a bobbin occupying said low position.

13. In a weft replenishing loom having a bobbin provided with a weft end and having provision either to move the bobbin to transferred position in a depleted shuttle at a given level as the result of a called transfer operation, or effect movement of the bobbin to a low position below said level when a called transfer operation is revoked, a thread holder to which is attached the Weft end of the bobbin when the latter is in either of said positions, and cutter means operated by the loom and so located that the weft end moves toward but remains above the range of operation of the cutter means when the bobbin moves to and remains at said given level, the weft end being moved into said range of operation of the cutter means to be cut by the latter by the bobbin when the latter moves to said low position.

14. In a weft replenishing loom having a group of reserve bobbins provided with weft ends and wherein calls for transfer operations of the loom can occur in successive two-pick cycles of the loom, a call for transfer being followed either by movement of one of the bobbins into a transferred position in a depleted shuttle at one point in the cycle or to a low position below transferred position at another point in the cycle should the called transfer operation be revoked, a thread holder to which is attached the weft end of any bobbin in said low position, and means operated by the loom to cut the thread of a bobbin in said low position at a point in the two-pick cycle subsequent to the aforesaid points at which the bobbin is either moved to transfer position or to said low position.

15. In a weft replenishing loom having a reserve bobbin provided with a weft and the loom having a shuttle which is picked away from that end of the loom at which the bobbin is located at two-pick intervals, the loom having provision upon call for replenishment of the shuttle either to move the bobbin to a transferred position in the shuttle or cause the bobbin to move to a low position below the shuttle between two successive picking intervals if the called operation is revoked, and a thread cutter operated by the loom to cut the thread only of a bobbin in said low position and having an operation for each of said intervals.

16. In a weft replenishing loom having a reserve bobbin provided with a weft at one end of the loom and the loom having a shuttle which is picked away from said one end of the loom at two-pick intervals, the loom having provision upon call for replenishment of the shuttle either to move the bobbin to a transferred position in the shuttle or cause the bobbin to move to a low position below the shuttle if the called operation is revoked between successive picking intervals, a thread cutter positioned to cut the thread only of a bobbin in said low position, and an actuator for said cutter operated by the loom and causing said cutter to operate subsequent to movement sion for discharging therefrom a bobbin in transfer position which fails to be transferred, a thread holder for the weft end of a bobbin in transfer position to hold said weft end after the bobbin has been discharged, and means operated by a part of the loom and mounted on the thread holder to cut the weft end extending from the discharged bobbin to the thread holder.

18. In a weft replenishing loom operating with a magazine having a plurality of reserve bobbins which move progressively to transfer position, means to effect discharge of a bobbin in the magazine in transfer position which fails to be transferred, a thread holder which tends to unwind the weft of a, discharged bobbin, and means operated by a part of the loom to cut the thread of the discharged bobbin to prevent the thread holder from unwinding the yarn on the released bobbin.

of the bobbin to said low position to out said weft end prior to the picking interval occurring when the shuttle is next at said one end of the loom.

17. In a weft replenishing loom having provi- 19. In a weft replenishing loom operating with a magazine having a group of bobbins which move successively to transfer position and wherein provision is made for downward discharge from the magazine of a bobbin in transfer position which fails to be transferred, a pneumatic thread holder to receive the weft ends of the bobbins in the magazine and tending to draw said weft ends in a direction away from the bobbins and also draw the weft end of a discharged bobbin away from the latter, and means below the weft ends extending from the magazine to cut the weft and extending from the thread holder to a bobbin which has been discharged downwardly from transfer position in the magazine.

20. In a weft replenishing loom operating with a magazine having a group of bobbins which move successively to transfer position and wherein provision is made for discharge from the magazine of a bobbin in vtransfer position which fails to be transferred, a thread holder for the weft ends of the bobbins in the magazine to hold said weft ends in a given zone and hold the weft end of a discharged bobbin below said zone, a thread cutter having a range of action below said zone, the thread of a bobbin discharged from transfer position moving into said range due to downward motion of the discharged bobbin, and means to operate said cutter to cause the same to cut the thread of the discharged bobbin.

21. In a weft replenishing loom operating with a magazine having a group of bobbins which move successively to transfer position and wherein provision is made for discharging from the magazine a bobbin in transfer position which fails to be transferred, a bobbin can to receive a bobbin discharged from transfer position in the magazine, a thread holder acting to draw the weft ends of the bobbins in the magazine and the weft end of a discharged bobbin in the can away from their respective bobbins, and means to cut the thread extending from a discharged bobbin in the can to said thread holder.

22. In a weft replenishing loom operating with a magazine which discharges a bobbin in transfer position which fails to be transferred, a bobbin can to receive a bobbin discharged from transfer position, a thread holder tending to unwind the weft of a bobbin in the can, and means operated by a part of the loom to cut the weft end extending from a discharged bobbin in the can to said thread holder.

23. In a weft replenishing loom operating with a group of reserve bobbins which move progressively to transfer position and from which weft ends extend, the loom having provision for discharging a bobbin in transfer position which fails to be transferred, a thread holder tending to draw the weft. ends away from their respective bobbins, a thread cutter having a range of operation and operative to out the thread of a bobbin discharged from transfer position, the thread of the discharged bobbin moving into said range due solely to movement of the discharged bobbin, when the latter is discharged, and means to operate said thread cutter subsequent to discharge of the tin-transferred bobbin from transfer position.

2L In a weft replenishing loom operating with a group of reserve bobbins which move progressively to transfer position and from which weft ends extend, the 100m having provision for discharging a bobbin in transfer position which fails to be transferred, a thread holder to receive the weft ends of the bobbins of the magazine and the weft end of a discharged bobbin and tending to draw said weft ends away from their respective bobbins, and means mounted on the thread holder to cut the weft end of a discharged bobbin, the last named weft end moving into position for cutting by said means due solely to movement of the bobbin thereof when the latter isdischarged.

25. In a weft replenishing loom having a magazine provided with reserve bobbins from which weft ends extend to an intake mouth of a pneumatic thread holder which tends to draw the weft ends away from the bobbins, the loom having provision for discharging an untransferred bobbin in transfer position downwardly from the magazine, a thread cutter operated by the 100m adjacent to the thread holder to cut the thread of a discharged bobbin, and a protective guard above the thread cutter constructed to permit the thread of a discharged bobbin to move into cutting relation with respect to the cutter but protecting the fingers of an operator from the cutter when weft ends are held adjacent to said intake mouth.

RICHARD G. TURNER. 

